ADHD and autism assessment pathway
NHS Western Isles (Bòrd SSN nan Eilean Siar) covers the Outer Hebrides (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar), serving around 26,000 people. It is one of Scotland's smallest boards and runs its services differently from mainland boards. A dedicated neurodevelopmental service for children and young people is publicly documented. The adult pathway is not clearly documented publicly.
In the Western Isles, the children's neurodevelopmental service states clearly: you do not need a diagnosis to receive support. Support is offered according to assessment of need.
Reviewed by ADHD Scot,
Getting your child assessed
NHS Western Isles has a dedicated Neurodevelopmental Service for Children and Young People, documented in a published leaflet (version 1, 2025, review date August 2027). The service covers ADHD, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Language Disorder, and Development Co-ordination Disorder. Assessment uses a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team approach. In the Western Isles, Educational Psychologists are part of the multi-disciplinary team carrying out neurodevelopmental assessments.
Support for children and young people is co-ordinated through the Getting it Right Planning Meeting process, usually arranged by health visitors or schools depending on the child's age. Concerns can be raised by parents, GPs, health visitors, education staff, or other professionals. ADHD and autism are typically initiated via the education department, with input from CAMHS on a case-by-case basis.
The team around the child draws together education, health, and other relevant professionals to review the child's needs, agree next steps, and co-ordinate support. Support can begin at this stage, based on need, before any formal diagnosis is in place.
Assessment involves a range of professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, CAMHS (including a consultant psychiatrist), and a consultant paediatrician. Assessments may take place at home, school, nursery, or clinic, and can be conducted by phone or video call. The team gathers information about the child's early development, communication, social interaction, learning, and emotional wellbeing.
Once information is gathered, a feedback appointment is offered (usually within a month) to share the outcome, which may include a diagnosis. A written report is provided and, with consent, shared with involved professionals. If an outcome cannot be reached, a review may be arranged or another team consulted. Support is available throughout the process, not only after a diagnosis.
To contact the Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team directly: Email: wi.ndteam@nhs.scot · Address: Stornoway Health Centre, Springfield Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2PS.
For CAMHS, the Lewis and Harris team can be reached on 01851 701868 and the Uists and Barra team on 01870 603307, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Getting assessed as an adult
The adult ADHD and autism assessment pathway in NHS Western Isles is not clearly documented publicly. Adult ADHD is assessed by a separate community psychiatric nurse team. A neurodevelopmental team that covers adult autism assessments started in August 2024, but as of the FOI data at 30 June 2026, it had completed no adult autism assessments since it began. Adults seeking assessment should speak to their GP in the first instance.
Request a referral for ADHD or autism assessment. Be specific about your symptoms and how they affect daily life. Mention difficulties have been present since childhood. A completed ADHD screener or autism screener can support your conversation.
Your GP refers you to the appropriate adult service. Ask specifically whether your referral is going to the community psychiatric nurse team (for ADHD) or the neurodevelopmental team (for autism), and ask for a written record of when the referral was sent.
Waiting times are long (see the waiting times section below). Contact NHS Western Isles directly at wihb.scot.nhs.uk to confirm current provision and expected timescales. If the wait is too long, consider private assessment.
Waiting times
The following figures are from an FOI request (reference 356-2026, responded 9 July 2026), reflecting the position at 30 June 2026. See our NHS waiting times page and FOI data for the full dataset and comparisons across all Scottish boards.
The adult autism median is listed as 24.9 weeks, but the neurodevelopmental team that assesses adult autism has completed no adult autism assessments since it started in August 2024. The 78 adult neurodevelopmental referrals are counted together rather than split by condition, so this figure does not reflect completed pathways.
| Pathway | Median wait | People waiting |
|---|---|---|
| Adult ADHD (community psychiatric nurse team) | 52.3 weeks | 277 |
| Adult autism (neurodevelopmental team — see caution above) | 24.9 weeks | 78 (combined ND) |
| Children's ADHD | 2.3 weeks | |
| Children's autism | 69.3 weeks | |
| Under-18 combined neurodevelopmental wait | 70.3 weeks | 164 |
The children's ADHD median of 2.3 weeks counts all referral sources, not just GP referrals, so should be read in that context. The 164 children on the combined neurodevelopmental list face a median combined wait of 70.3 weeks, driven by the children's autism queue.
While you wait, support and resources
You do not need a formal diagnosis to access most of the following resources. Support is available now.
Local support in the Western Isles
Autism Eilean Siar (Autism Eileanan Siar) is a voluntary parent-led group supporting autistic people, their families, and carers across the Western Isles. No diagnosis is needed to attend. The group meets on the second Friday of each month during school term time at The Failte Centre, Bayhead, Stornoway.
Scotland-wide support organisations
Your child's school rights, no diagnosis needed
Schools in Scotland are required to support children with additional needs under the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004. No diagnosis is required. Ask your child's school about a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) or Individual Education Programme, these can be put in place while waiting for assessment. In the Western Isles, the education department plays an active role in initiating neurodevelopmental assessments.
If the wait for adult assessment is too long, our compare tool lists private assessment providers with filters for HIS registration, cost, and shared care support. Some providers offer remote assessment across Scotland. Our shared care guide explains what happens after a private diagnosis.
References
- NHS Western Isles, The Neurodevelopmental Service for Children and Young People: a guide for parents and carers, 2025
- NHS Western Isles, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): an information leaflet for young people and their families, version 4, review date December 2024
- NHS Western Isles, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), wihb.scot.nhs.uk
- Autism Central NHS directory, Autism Eilean Siar
- Scottish Parliament Research Briefing SB 25-25: Neurodevelopmental Pathways and Waiting Times in Scotland, June 2025
- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, ADHD and autism pathways and support, January 2026
- NAIT, Children's Neurodevelopmental Pathway Practice Framework (Scottish Government funded), May 2021
- Scottish Government, National Neurodevelopmental Specification: principles and standards of care for children and young people, 2021
- Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004